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1949 Map of Chinook

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Chinook
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Columbia River estuary meets the Pacific coast in this late 1940s topography, revealing a landscape defined by tidal flats and historic ranching settlements. The town of Chinook sits at the base of Scarboro Hill, adjacent to the strategic Fort Columbia Military Reservation and Chinook Point. This coastal corridor features a network of family-owned lands, including Goulter Ranch, Kyle Ranch, and Lewis Ranch, which occupy the lowlands near the Bear River and Wallacut River.

Coastal navigation is prominent, with the Ilwaco Channel and various light stations like the Sand Island Dike Light guiding vessels through the shifting sands of Baker Bay. The presence of the Ilwaco Airfield and Airport Road near Beeker Ranch indicates the mid-century infrastructure supporting this maritime and agricultural community. The map also captures the precise boundary between Washington and Oregon as it follows the main river channel.